MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering inner ball joint - thrust spring or not?

Hello, just returned to the midget world after a break of 10 years.

I'm checking the condition of a late steering rack (thin type) which was stiff and unresponsive with no self-centring.

Fully dismantled the rack to check for condition, wear and any lubrication, prior to reassembly.

The inner ball joints both have nylon cups fitted with steel thrust springs.

Looking at the Bentley manual (section J), it states - "Caution - if a nylon cup is replacing a steel cup, the thrust spring must be discarded" (this caution is repeated in the Leyland manual too)

However, looking at various parts suppliers, the nylon cup and steel springs are listed and available parts right up until the end of production, no mention of a steel ball cup or a change point either?

Should I leave the thrust spring in place or discard ? - it does seem odd to have a steel spring bearing onto a nylon part.

Thanks for your help.
A Glynn

I just checked the technical archives. There are 106 threads with steering rack in the title.

I don't think even I'd fancy trying to find the answer in that lot. Lol.

I took a late (1973) rack apart and it was the same as yours. I left it as is. If those inner joints don't have any play, I'd keep them as is as it sounds original. I wonder if the books are wrong.

Did you find the reason for the stiffness? Was it just dry?
anamnesis

Hello, thanks for your reply. I have searched for this issue in online forums etc. and found nothing on the subject anywhere. I am wondering too that it could be an error, copied and copied into manuals.

Also never seen in parts lists a steel ball cup either, only nylon. Maybe this refers to a different steering rack.

Regarding the stiffness in the rack and lack of steering self centering, what I have found so far -
The rack pinion end float was over shimmed by 10 thou.
-
The rack mounting packing spacer (between the cross member and the rack bracket) was on the drivers side not the passenger side.

I have yet to align the rack as one of the captive nuts in the cross member is threaded and I can't get the correct torque.

Tony
A Glynn

If the steering isn't centering, and with the other shimming faults you have found, I would release the TREs and check that both front swivel hubs move freely.
Another possibility on steering not centering is if the toe in alignment is badly out of adjustment.
GuyW

I have already checked the hubs and both are fine. The car was a heritage shell re-build in the mid 90's to show standard then kept in heated storage for 30 years only covering about 100 miles since.
I'm going through it replacing all the rubber bits, tyres, hoses and bushes etc.
A Glynn

Or previous accident damage has reduced caster or even made it a tad negative.
Paul Walbran

No sign of any accident damage, but I have heard of suspension alignment issues on early heritage shells. Will be checking castor, camber and toe etc. soon.
A Glynn

“ The rack mounting packing spacer (between the cross member and the rack bracket) was on the drivers side not the passenger side.”

I better that is correct for the later rack.
Dave O'Neill 2

This thread was discussed between 18/10/2024 and 19/10/2024

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.